Journal: Characterize George and Martha; What seems to be the cause of their problems? What role does illusion play?
Martha is selfish and careless, like a bratty child. When the couple first arrives home, she repeatedly comments "what a dump!," but no more. She seems to expect the mess to clean itself (or George to clean it for her) merely by commenting on it. Furthermore, she acts even more like a spoiled brat by adding to the mess, throwing her coat onto the floor. She then indulges in a chicken wing and glass of liquor, with a very sloppy and clumsy attitude about her. She treats George like an inferior because she thinks herself queen of the world, at one point shooting at him "don't you do anything?!" Martha is like a spoiled toddler.
Martha, however, seems to also have brief moments of tenderness, exposure, and softness in juxtaposition to her brattiness. She seems to try to express something deeper about herself, but George ignores her. She reverts back to her bratty character when she doesn't get attention out of him through her moments of softness. She desires his sympathy and love.
George, on the other hand, seems passive, lazy, and also selfish. When arriving home, he cleans up a spot only for himself to relax in the miess, and only makes his wife a drink with reluctance after she yells at him. He comments "of course" when Martha brings up the young handsome man coming over, as if suggesting Martha has feelings for him. His passive nature, however, prevents him from flat out expressing his concern. Furthermore, George does not pick up on his wife's hints nor try to soothe her (she is obviously drunk) back to soberness or bed. He seems to have abandoned his wife.
The root of their problems seems to come from a lack of communication. Both Martha and George repeatedly bark "what?!" in a hopeless attempt to hear the other. This phrase is symbolic of both individual's tendency to communicate passively and secretively- they never flat out state their desires or thoughts.
Illusion seems to be the only way the two can coexist. When they both end up drunk out of their minds, they start laughing together and seem to actually enjoy each other.Their laughter, however, comes along with insults and aggressive comments- it is not real happiness- it is a drunk illusion of happiness. Their "love scene" in the bedroom is not founded on actual love; rather, it is founded upon the illusion of alcohol.
Martha is selfish and careless, like a bratty child. When the couple first arrives home, she repeatedly comments "what a dump!," but no more. She seems to expect the mess to clean itself (or George to clean it for her) merely by commenting on it. Furthermore, she acts even more like a spoiled brat by adding to the mess, throwing her coat onto the floor. She then indulges in a chicken wing and glass of liquor, with a very sloppy and clumsy attitude about her. She treats George like an inferior because she thinks herself queen of the world, at one point shooting at him "don't you do anything?!" Martha is like a spoiled toddler.
Martha, however, seems to also have brief moments of tenderness, exposure, and softness in juxtaposition to her brattiness. She seems to try to express something deeper about herself, but George ignores her. She reverts back to her bratty character when she doesn't get attention out of him through her moments of softness. She desires his sympathy and love.
George, on the other hand, seems passive, lazy, and also selfish. When arriving home, he cleans up a spot only for himself to relax in the miess, and only makes his wife a drink with reluctance after she yells at him. He comments "of course" when Martha brings up the young handsome man coming over, as if suggesting Martha has feelings for him. His passive nature, however, prevents him from flat out expressing his concern. Furthermore, George does not pick up on his wife's hints nor try to soothe her (she is obviously drunk) back to soberness or bed. He seems to have abandoned his wife.
The root of their problems seems to come from a lack of communication. Both Martha and George repeatedly bark "what?!" in a hopeless attempt to hear the other. This phrase is symbolic of both individual's tendency to communicate passively and secretively- they never flat out state their desires or thoughts.
Illusion seems to be the only way the two can coexist. When they both end up drunk out of their minds, they start laughing together and seem to actually enjoy each other.Their laughter, however, comes along with insults and aggressive comments- it is not real happiness- it is a drunk illusion of happiness. Their "love scene" in the bedroom is not founded on actual love; rather, it is founded upon the illusion of alcohol.